Patient support apparatuses with wireless headwall communication
First Claim
1. A person support apparatus comprising:
- a support surface adapted to support a person;
a microphone adapted to convert sound waves from the person on the support surface into audio signals;
an exit detection system adapted to detect when the person exits from the support surface and to issue an alert;
a first transceiver adapted to wirelessly communicate with a headwall interface positioned off of the person support apparatus, the headwall interface including a multi-pin connector adapted to couple to a nurse-call system connector mounted to a headwall; and
a controller adapted to automatically establish a communication link between the first transceiver and the headwall interface without requiring a user of the person support apparatus to activate a control designated for establishing the communication link and without requiring the user to identify the headwall interface, the controller further adapted to transmit the audio signals and the alert via the communication link to the headwall interface for forwarding to the nurse-call system connector, the headwall interface changing one of a normally open state and normally closed state of a selected one of the pins of the multi-pin connector in response to the alert.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A person support apparatus includes a first transceiver adapted to wirelessly communicate with a second transceiver of a headwall interface that is positioned off of the person support apparatus. A communication link is automatically established between the first and second transceivers without requiring a user of the person support apparatus to activate a designated control and without requiring the user to identify the headwall interface. The first transceiver includes a unique identifier assigned to the headwall interface in its messages to the headwall interface. The first transceiver may also automatically transmit a disconnect signal to the headwall interface indicating the termination of the communication link is not accidental. The disconnect signal is sent based on one or more of the following: (1) a brake being off, (2) an A/C power cord being unplugged; and/or (3) a signal strength between the transceivers decreasing.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A person support apparatus comprising:
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a support surface adapted to support a person; a microphone adapted to convert sound waves from the person on the support surface into audio signals; an exit detection system adapted to detect when the person exits from the support surface and to issue an alert; a first transceiver adapted to wirelessly communicate with a headwall interface positioned off of the person support apparatus, the headwall interface including a multi-pin connector adapted to couple to a nurse-call system connector mounted to a headwall; and a controller adapted to automatically establish a communication link between the first transceiver and the headwall interface without requiring a user of the person support apparatus to activate a control designated for establishing the communication link and without requiring the user to identify the headwall interface, the controller further adapted to transmit the audio signals and the alert via the communication link to the headwall interface for forwarding to the nurse-call system connector, the headwall interface changing one of a normally open state and normally closed state of a selected one of the pins of the multi-pin connector in response to the alert. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A person support apparatus system comprising:
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a person support apparatus including a first transceiver, a microphone, a support surface adapted to support a person, and an exit detection system adapted to detect when the person exits from the support surface and to issue an alert, the microphone being adapted to convert sound waves from the person on the support surface into audio signals; and a headwall interface including a second transceiver, a third transceiver, and a multi-pin connector, the second transceiver adapted to wirelessly communicate with the first transceiver, the third transceiver adapted to wirelessly communicate with a local area network positioned within a facility in which the person support apparatus is located, and the multi-pin connector adapted to couple to a nurse-call system connector mounted to a headwall, wherein the headwall interface is adapted to forward data received from the local area network via the third transceiver to the person support apparatus using the second transceiver and to forward the audio signals and the alert received from the first transceiver of the person support apparatus to the nurse-call system connector mounted to the headwall, the headwall interface forwarding the alert to the nurse-call system connector by changing one of a normally open state and normally closed state of a selected one of the pins of the multi-pin connector. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification